TOMS RIVER, NJ – This weekend, Tracey Fournier and her team at the Toms River Advisory Committee on Developmental Disabilities raised money through a bowling fundraiser to raise money to purchase a mobile sensory trailer for developmentally challenged children in the community.
The committee’s ‘Bowling with Benefits’ fundraiser on Saturday night saw 21 teams of five bowlers, each raising $1000 for the purchase of a Sensory Activation Vehicle (S.A.V.E), a trailer designed to bring a mobile sensory experience to any event that lacks a physical space for a dedicated sensory room, the Township of Toms River said in a statement today.
The trailer will be used for outdoor events such as concerts and baseball games to indoor events including exhibitions and conferences.
Mike Little and Keller Williams Shore Properties sponsored the event. To learn more about the effort, visit Fournier’s fundraising page.
“1 in 6 individuals have a sensory need that limits them from participating completely within their community? Individuals with invisible disabilities such as PTSD, Autism, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and Sensory Processing Disorders and their families often avoid public and community events out of fear of becoming overstimulated and overwhelmed. They may have difficulty managing the noise, lights, and crowds,” Fournier, an educator said on her fundraising page. “But we can help those with disabilities and their families enjoy community events such as street fairs and festivals! By adding a sensory room to community events, we can help Toms River to become a more inclusive township where all of our residents can benefit from social events within our community. A sensory room is a dedicated space that gives access to tools and equipment that can be used to help an individual de-escalate and self-regulate so they can reenter the event feeling secure, confident and a valued member of the community!”